Anyone Here Read the Harry Potter Books?

**BrazenMuse** · 08-25-2007, 11:22 PM

I actually look forward to these things...although I have problems sometimes with Rowling's characterizations...

**xtine** · 08-26-2007, 08:15 AM

Hi Brazen. I just finished Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows last month and by far, it's been my favorite out of the series.

**Stef** · 08-27-2007, 10:48 AM

I finally jumped on the bandwagon this summer.
I started on Memorial Day weekend and have now read all of the harry Potter Books.
Very enjoyable.

**C hristian** · 08-28-2007, 06:57 AM

my son is cruising through them these days. sometimes a book in a day. has bad dreams as a result.

**BrazenMuse** · 08-28-2007, 12:08 PM

Originally Posted by C hristian

my son is cruising through them these days. sometimes a book in a day. has bad dreams as a result.

oh no!! Sorry to hear that. It's gonna sort itself out.

I rather like the series...reading Deathly Hallows now.
Any comments on the content or characterization ?

**C hristian** · 08-28-2007, 08:10 PM

not really, other than it fills a need that people have for magical fiction and rather rich characters, but could only get their fill of it for years with Narnia and LOTR. If you ask me, this genre is not oversaturated, given the demand....yet.

**BrazenMuse** · 08-28-2007, 08:32 PM

Originally Posted by C hristian

not really, other than it fills a need that people have for magical fiction and rather rich characters, but could only get their fill of it for years with Narnia and LOTR. If you ask me, this genre is not oversaturated, given the demand....yet.

Charles DeLint.

**C hristian** · 08-28-2007, 08:50 PM

noted.

got as a free gift , a big harry cutout today. stands in his bedroom tonight.

**KragShot** · 08-30-2007, 01:59 PM

Every summer, my wife and I each pick a book or two and we read them and discuss them with each other. This summer we decided that the Harry Potter books would fill that role, so we reread the entire series, finishing with "Deathly Hallows."

There was so much we missed on our first reading!

Anyway, we have still been carrying on about the series. Now that she's going to be back in the classroom this year, she's considering getting copies of the entire series for her kids this year.

**Moksha** · 08-30-2007, 03:11 PM

Adults should not be reading pooly written children's books

**BrazenMuse** · 08-30-2007, 07:09 PM

Originally Posted by Moksha

Adults should not be reading pooly written children's books

ya know what though? They can be fun sometimes. The series ain't fine literature but it is pretty good storytelling even if she lacks finesse as a stylist. The fact that so many kids are enthused by them and motivated to practice/develop their reading skills makes a difference even though the effect is not as widespread as some folks seem to want us to believe. Ever little bit helps. I'm teaching high school this year and apparently many of the students are fans. I prefer to be prepared.

Now, you want excellent fantasy/science fiction, that's a different story. Charles De Lint for urban fantasy, Ellen Datlow & Terri Windling for excellent anthologies of fantasy and fairy tales, Tanith Lee for mindblowing hallucinogenic fantasy writing (contact me...her work is not altogether consistent), Michael Moorcock for riffs on the Norse cycle of legends (among other things), Kim Stanley Robinson for excellent alternative histories (California series and, especially, Years of Rice and Salt)...I can go on for hours...sf/fantasy is my absolute first love...from the hardcore physicists writing sf (Greg Benford & the like) through all the permutations of faerie.

**Monny JcIntosh** · 08-30-2007, 07:35 PM

Originally Posted by Moksha

Adults should not be reading pooly written children's books

Quite. There isn't enough time to read the good stuff.

**100%PureLove** · 08-31-2007, 05:03 PM

Read the first three then saw the first movie (mistake). Could not get back into the books after seeing the movie. Got turned off the whole thing.

**12th house** · 09-03-2007, 06:50 PM

Been noting this trend of adults reading children's literature. There are some other series that seem popular with adults, yet when adults discuss this reading material, they don't note it is children's literature (at least few who I have heard speak about it speak as if they are taking a "break" or "tour" through kids' books; they speak about it as any adult would any other book written for an audience of a certain age). Thoughts?

**BrazenMuse** · 09-04-2007, 03:55 PM

Originally Posted by 12th house

Been noting this trend of adults reading children's literature. There are some other series that seem popular with adults, yet when adults discuss this reading material, they don't note it is children's literature (at least few who I have heard speak about it speak as if they are taking a "break" or "tour" through kids' books; they speak about it as any adult would any other book written for an audience of a certain age). Thoughts?

I think people like the simple pleasure of it...no one seems to be framing it as kid lit or excusing it as kid lit although I hear plenty who seem to think of it as slumming. I think it's just a bit of fun, so I guess I'm in the break/tour category. A number of my favorite fantasy writers also do kid lit and I read those too (Jane Yolen, Tanith Lee) because I like their writing and don't really give a darn if it's kid lit.
This last one was read, however, in the awareness that I'm teaching high school and that it might be a point of contact for some of my students...and I want all the points I can get really.
mmmmm...ok...nap now.

**kara** · 09-10-2007, 03:14 AM

**housewithme** · 09-28-2007, 09:47 PM

YEAH!

**Moksha** · 10-05-2007, 10:27 AM

Originally Posted by Monny JcIntosh

Quite. There isn't enough time to read the good stuff.

And if adults must read childrens' books... there are plenty of skillful writers past and present. Rowling is not one of them.

**she-pisces** · 03-10-2008, 06:44 PM

Originally Posted by BrazenMuse

I actually look forward to these things...although I have problems sometimes with Rowling's characterizations...

I was addicted. I wanted to go to sleep as it got late but couldnt put the book down. now, ijust watch the movie.

**Martin Red** · 04-22-2008, 03:30 AM

Originally Posted by BrazenMuse

I actually look forward to these things...although I have problems sometimes with Rowling's characterizations...

Yeah, I just read Harry Potter and the vestibule of spinsters, great kids books

**BrazenMuse** · 05-29-2008, 06:48 PM

Originally Posted by Martin Red

Yeah, I just read Harry Potter and the vestibule of spinsters, great kids books

Vestibule of Spinsters??!!

Ok, not great...but I still had fun. I'm teaching high schoolers these days and it is interesting to see what they are interested in. I just read one of Stephanie Meyer's godawful vampire books...but the girls are all addicted to the things...ack!